Toy gyroscope

ABSTRACT

A toy gyroscope comprises a casing; a toy object which is rotatably mounted in the casing; and an unbalanced driving element which is rotatably mounted in the casing; wherein a free wheel transmission is provided between the unbalanced driving element and the toy object, having a direction of rotary actuation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to a toy gyroscope.

[0003] 2. Background Art

[0004] In conventional toy gyroscopes, provision is made for a rotatably mounted toy object, to which torque action must be applied externally. In classical gyroscopes, use is made of a whipcord. Optionally, a threaded rod may be provided, the linear displacement of which is transferred into rotary motion of the gyroscope. All these gyroscopes have in common that they are not suitable for toddlers whose motor activities are not yet fully developed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the invention to embody a toy gyroscope that may be handled in as simple a manner as possible.

[0006] This object is attained in a toy gyroscope comprising a casing; a toy object which is rotatably mounted in the casing; and an unbalanced driving element which is rotatably mounted in the casing; wherein a first free-wheel transmission is provided between the unbalanced driving element and the toy object, having a direction of rotary actuation. The gist of the invention resides in that a rotatably mounted unbalanced driving element and a rotatably mounted toy object are provided in a casing. They are both connected to each other by a free-wheel transmission so that after a motion of the unbalanced driving element and after its coming to rest, the toy object continues to move.

[0007] Further features and details of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description of an exemplary embodiment, taken in conjunction with the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0008]FIG. 1 is a lateral view of a toy gyroscope according to the invention;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the toy gyroscope according to FIG. 1;

[0010]FIG. 3 is an illustration of a pawl; and

[0011]FIG. 4 is an illustration of an unbalanced driving element.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] A toy gyroscope 1 includes a casing 4, which consists of a casing bottom 2 and a transparent casing lid 3. The casing bottom 2 bulges outwards, i.e., it is convex. In the casing 4, provision is made for a shaft 6 which extends centrally and vertically in symmetry to an axis of rotation 5 and which is mounted on, and fixed to, the casing bottom 2 in a centered base 7 which forms one piece therewith. The shaft 6 runs from the casing bottom 2 over approximately half the height of the casing 4. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 6 is an unbalanced driving element 8, above which a counterpart driving element 9 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 6 and is connected to the unbalanced driving element 8 by way of a planet wheel connection 10.

[0013] Above the counterpart driving element 9, a toy object 11 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 6, having a support plate 12 as well as a figurine carrier 13 which is centered thereon and fixed thereto. Several figurines 14—four in the example—are fixed to the figurine carrier 13. Between the support plate 12 and the unbalanced driving element 8, there is a first free-wheel transmission 15, which comprises a gear ring 16 forming one piece with the support plate 12 and a pawl 17, which is pivotably connected to the unbalanced driving element 8 and which can be engaged with the gear ring 16. Between the support plate 12 and the counterpart driving element 9, there is a second free-wheel transmission 18, which is formed by a gear ring 19, which is one piece with the support plate 12, and by a pawl 20, which is pivotably connected to the counterpart driving element 9, it being possible to engage the pawl 20 with the gear ring 19. The free-wheel transmissions 15 and 18 have a common direction of rotary actuation 21, i.e., the toy object 11 will always be actuated in the direction 21.

[0014] The unbalanced driving element 8 has a radial arm 22 with a drilled hole 23 provided at one end thereof; the shaft 6 is housed in the hole 23. Provided on the outer end of the arm 22 is an upwardly open pocket 24, in which an unbalance weight 25, in particular of heavy metal such as lead, is fixed by a locking projection 26 which is provided on the upper edge of the pocket 24. Provided on the wall 27, turned towards the shaft 6, of the pocket 24 is a pin 28 which stands out radially inwards and which centrally comprises a longitudinal slit 29 and a locking edge 30 projecting on its free end. A pawl 17 is locked into place on the pin 28 so that it is pivotable about the pin 28. To this end, the pawl 17 has a drilled hole 31 which houses the pin 28. Provided on one end of the pawl 17 is a rib 32, which projects upwards and which is defined by a steeply descending flank 33 and a flatly descending flank 34. Provided on the other side of the drilled hole 23 are two stop elements 35 which stand out upwards and downwards from the per se flat pawl 17. Provided in the lower portion of the wall 27 is a recess 36, in which the stop element is pivotable. The recess 36 defines the pivotability of the pawl 17 between a vertical position of the flank 33 on the one hand and a second position pivoted by approximately 45° in relation thereto.

[0015] Between the hole 23 and the pocket 24, another drilled hole 37 of greater diameter is provided in the arm 22, extending parallel to the hole 23. Mounted in the hole 37 is a vertical pinion shaft 38, to the upper end of which is fixed a first planetary gearwheel and to the lower end a second planetary gearwheel 40. The shaft 38 is rotatably run in the hole 37. Provided on the outside of the base 7 is a gear ring 41, which forms one piece therewith and which engages with the gearwheel 40. In a preferred embodiment, the moment of inertia of the unbalanced driving element 8 exceeds the moment of inertia of the toy object 11.

[0016] The counterpart driving element 9 comprises an arm 42, on one end of which is provided a bearing sleeve 43, having a centered hole 44 with the shaft 6 run therein. At the opposite end of the arm 42, provision is made for a support 45, which is perpendicular to the arm 42 and projects downwards and on the outer end of which a pin 46 is provided, extending radially outwards. The design of the pin 46 corresponds to the design of the pin 28. The pawl 20, which is placed on the pin 46, corresponds in design to the pawl 17. A corresponding recess 36 is provided in the support 45. The flanks 33 of the pawls 17 and 20 are oriented in the same direction. The lower portion of the bearing sleeve 43 is enclosed by a gear ring 47, which engages with the gearwheel 39. The reference diameter of the gear ring 41 amounts to 24 mm in an example. The reference diameter of the gearwheel 40 is 12 mm in an example. The ratio of the reference diameter of the gear ring 41 to that of the gearwheel 40 is in the amount of 2:1. The reference diameter of the gear ring 47 as well as the reference diameter of the gear wheel 39 are 18 mm in an example. The ratio of the reference diameter of the gear ring 47 to that of the gearwheel 39 is 1:1.

[0017] The gear rings 16 and 19 of the support plate 12 have dents 48, which are defined each by a steeply descending flank 49 and a flatly descending flank 50. The flank 49 is engageable with the flank 33 of the pawls 17 or 20. Centrally, the support plate 12 has a bearing bush 51, which projects upwards and is closed at the top and in which the shaft 6 is run for rotation. A ball 54 is arranged between the inner upper end 52 of the bearing bush 51 and the upper end 53 of the shaft 6, constituting a ball bearing and thus reducing the friction between the support plate 12 and the shaft 6. The figurine carrier 13, which tapers upwards conically, is fixed by way of locking arms 55 which are provided at its lower end, engaging with corresponding locking recesses 56 in the support plate 12 and locking into place therein. At the upper end, the figurine carrier 13 has a centered impression 57, with which engages a pin 58 that projects downwards from the inside of the lid 3, forming another bearing for stabilization of the toy object 11. The figurine carrier 13 has four lugs 59, which project radially outwards and which, on their free ends, have in each case two projections 60 that are oriented approximately in the circumferential direction. The figurines 14 have apertures at the end of their arms 61, these apertures being engageable with the projections 60. Correspondingly, projections 63 are provided in the support plate 12 underneath the feet 62 of the figurines 14, engaging with corresponding recesses in the feet 62. In this way, four figurines 14 can be connected to the figurine carrier 13 on the support plate 12, each looking into a different direction.

[0018] In the marginal area of the casing bottom 2, provision is made for an annular space 66, which is defined by an internal wall 64 and an external wall 65 and upwardly by a corresponding shoulder 67 of the lid 3. In the annular space 66, provision is made for an annular intermediate rib 68 between the internal wall 64 and the external wall 65. Balls 69 are freely rotatable and movable in the annular space 66.

[0019] The following is an explanation of how the toy gyroscope 1 functions. If someone who plays with the gyroscope 1 gives it a push, tilting it to the left in FIG. 2, the unbalanced driving element 8 will pivot either in the direction of rotary actuation 21 or counter to the direction of rotary actuation 21 to the left in FIG. 2, possibly even transgressing the lowest point of the motion which is then on the left. If the unbalanced driving element 8 is pivoted in the direction 21, then the flank 33 of the pawl 17 engages with the flank 49 of a dent 48 of the gear ring 16 so that the support plate 12 is accelerated in the direction 21. As a result of the unbalanced driving element 8 being pivoted, the gearwheel 40 is moved on the gear ring 41, thereby rotating the gearwheel 39, which again causes an opposite motion of rotation of the gear ring 47 together with the counterpart driving element 9. The transmission ratios of the planet wheel connection are selected such that a rotation by 360° of the unbalanced driving element 8 will occasion the counterpart driving element 9 to be pivoted by 360° in the opposite direction. Consequently, the counterpart driving element 9 is pivoted counter to the direction 21 so that the free-wheel transmission 18 clears for free running. As soon as the unbalanced driving element 8 comes to rest and the toy object 11 tends to continue rotating due to momentum conservation, the free-wheel transmission is cleared for free running.

[0020] If the unbalanced driving element 8 moves counter to the direction 21 from the right half seen in FIG. 2 to the left half, the free-wheel transmission 15 clears so that there is no driving connection between the pawl 17 and the gear ring 16. As outlined above, the motion of the unbalanced driving element 8 counter to the direction 21 leads to an opposite motion of the counterpart driving element 9 in the direction 21. During this motion, the pawl 20 gets into engagement with the gear ring 19 so that the toy object 11 is driven in the direction 21 in this case too. As soon as the unbalanced driving element 8 has reached its position of rest, the toy object 11, in this case too, continues rotating due to momentum conservation and nearly frictionless mounting, because both free-wheel transmissions 15 and 18 are cleared for free running. Consequently, whenever the gyroscope 1 is simply given a random push, this will always result in the toy object 11 rotating in the direction 21. Any tilting motion of the casing 4, regardless of the direction of tilting, leads to accelerated rotation of the toy object I1 so that the gyroscope 1 is also suitable for toddlers; handling a conventional gyroscope would be too complicated for them. The balls 69 disposed in the annular space 66 may be multicolored, which augments the toy effect, because they move even upon slightest pushes, rousing the interest of the playing child. Another advantage of the gyroscope 1 resides in that there is no access from outside that is necessary in conventional gyroscopes for the rotary motion to be applied. In this way, the casing 4 can be closed waterproof so that the gyroscope 1 may also be used in the bath. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A toy gyroscope comprising a casing (4); a toy object (11) which is rotatably mounted in the casing (4); and an unbalanced driving element (8) which is rotatably mounted in the casing (4); wherein a first free-wheel transmission (15) is provided between the unbalanced driving element (8) and the toy object (11), having a direction of rotary actuation (21).
 2. A toy gyroscope according to claim 1, wherein a counterpart driving element (9) is provided, which is rotatably mounted and which is connected to the unbalanced driving element (8) such that it rotates in the opposite direction thereof.
 3. A toy gyroscope according to claim 2, wherein, between the counterpart driving element (9) and the toy object (11), a second free-wheel transmission (18) is provided, having the same direction of rotary actuation (21).
 4. A toy gyroscope according to claim 1, wherein the moment of inertia of the unbalanced driving element (8) exceeds the moment of inertia of the toy object (11).
 5. A toy gyroscope according to claim 2, wherein the unbalanced driving element (8) and the counterpart driving element (9) are connected to each other by a planet wheel connection (10).
 6. A toy gyroscope according to claim 2, wherein the unbalanced driving element (8) and the counterpart driving element (9) are connected to each other such that, upon complete rotation of the unbalanced driving element (8), the counterpart driving element (9) makes a complete rotation in the opposite direction.
 7. A toy gyroscope according to claim 2, wherein the toy object (11) and the unbalanced driving element (8) are mounted for rotation about a joint axis of rotation (5).
 8. A toy gyroscope according to claim 7, wherein the counterpart driving element (9) is mounted for rotation about the same axis of rotation (5).
 9. A toy gyroscope according to claim 1, wherein the casing (4) has a casing bottom (2) which is substantially convex.
 10. A toy gyroscope according to claim 1, wherein the first free wheel transmission (15) has a gear ring (16) which is connected to the toy object (11) and cooperates with a pawl (17) that is joined to the unbalanced driving element (8). 